Elastic shuttle drive



Nov. 5, 1963 c. T. DAVIS 3,109,462

ELASTIC SHUTTLE DRIVE Filed Aug. 23, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet l Char/es 7. Davis INVENTOR.

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wyawg 3% Nov. 5, 1963 c. T. DAVIS 3,109,462

ELASTIC SHUTTLE DRIVE Filed Aug. 23, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig. 2

Charles 7. Davis 1 N VE N TOR.

BY @emmt izm 3,109,462 ELASTIC HUTTLE DREVE Charles T. Davis, General Delivery, Stockdale, Tex. Filed Aug. 23, 1%1, Ser. No. 133,394 8 Claims. (Cl. 139-145) This invention comprises a novel and useful elastic shuttle drive and more particularly relates to an actuating mechanism for imparting the timed operating strokes to a picker stick of a loom. i t

This invention pertains to that type of loom having a lay shaft with loom shuttle boxes at the opposite ends thereof together with picker sticks movable within said boxes and mounted for pivoting movement so that upon pivoting of the picker sticks the shuttle may be hurled from one shuttle box across the lay to the opposite shuttle box of the loom. In such looms it is customary to provide a picker stick operating or driving mechanism Whereby the necessary timed picking strokes of the picker stick may be performed. Owing to the very great forces required to be applied to the picker stick in order to hurl the shuttle with a spool or bobbin across the lay of the loom, the relatively small range of movement of the picker sticks and the very sudden start and stopping of the same, excessive and heavy wear of the associated parts and of the driving mechanism is unavoidable. This results in expensive and costly delays in the operation of the loom when the necessary repairs or replacements are being effected to recondition the mechanism for continued operation.

Further, it is known to provide a continuously applied resilient force to a picker stick to at all times yieldingly urge the latter upon its picking stroke, and to provide actuating means for operating in opposition to the re silient means to move the picker stick to its rest position in readiness for the next stroke. In such mechanisms, the constant application of the resilient force to the picker stick also results in heavy wear both of the picker stick and its mounting and also upon the driving mechanism which moves the picker stick on its return stroke against the operation of the resilient means.

It is therefore the primary purpose of this invention to overcome the above disadvantages resident in a loom picker mechanism of this character by providing a picker stick operating mechanism or drive means which will greatly reduce the loads applied to the picker stick, its operating mechanism and the associated parts of the loom.

A further object of the invention is to provide an elastic drive means for a picker stick which will periodically apply a resilient force to the picker stick just prior to the time at which the picking stroke is to begin, and to relieve the picker stick of the strain of the resilient driving force at all other times.

A further object of the invention is to provide in a device of this character a tensioning means for driving the picker stick on its picking stroke together with a latch means for restraining the picker stick from its picking stroke together with positively timed operating means for the tensioning of the tension means and an actuating means for disengaging the latch mechanism.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an attachment which can be readily applied to convenmeans tional looms to effect the foregoing operations with a minimum rearrangement of the structure.

Still another purpose of the invention is to provide an attachment in accordance with the foregoing objects which will enable the timing of the operating means which applies the tension to the picker stick and the timing of the actuating means for releasing the latch mechanism to be easily and readily varied as desired.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a portion of a loom frame showing the associated parts of the loom to which the picker stick operating mechanism of this invention has been applied, the parts being shown in the position in which the picker stick is in its rest position;

FiGURE 2 is a vertical transverse sectional detail view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 2-2 of FIGURE 1 and showing in particular the control or operating means for this invention;

FIGURE 3 is a horizontal sectional detail view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 3-3 of FIGURE 1 and showing further details of the mounting of the latch mechanism and its association with a picker stick;

FIGURE 4 is a vertical transverse sectional detail view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 4--4 of FIGURE 1 and showing details of the tension means forming a part of the picker stick drive mechanism; and

FIGURE 5 is an exploded perspective View of the novel cam forming a part of the control means by which the timed relation of the picker stick tensioning means and the latch mechanism are controlled.

Referring first to FIGURE 1 it will be observed that a portion of a loom frame of any conventional design is indicated by the numeral 1%), the loom being of a type in which a My 12 is provided having a loom box 14 at each of the opposite ends thereof, one such box being shown, and which box accommodates the usual shuttle 16 which is operatively engaged by a picker 18 carried by a picker stick Zll. The latter is pivotally mounted as by a pivot pin 22 to a suitable part of the lay mechanism such as to the lay swords 24. The loom is further provided with a picker actuating control shaft 26 which by usual mechanism is customarily connected to the picker stick 20 for effecting timed operation of the latter. In some instances this operation is by a direct drive to positively move the lever in both of its two pivoting positions, that is, upon the pivoting stroke for throwing the shuttle 16 across the lay, and for returning the shuttle to its idle position in readiness for the next operation. In other instances, the shaft 26 merely serves to positively return the shuttle to its idle position while a resilient means, not shown, normally yieldingly urges the shuttle towards its picking stroke.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided an attachment which is readily applicable to conventional types of looms of this character and which may be quickly and easily applied to the existing structure of such looms.

The attachment includes a mounting bracket 30 supported by and extending from the lay sword 24 and upon which is pivotally mounted as by a pivot pin 32 a bell crank 34 comprising a latch member. A spring as yieldingly urges the latch member-into its latching position from which it is moved by an actuating means including a cable 33 secured to a depending apertured car all of the latch member. As will be observed from FIGURE 3, the latch member has a latch hook 42 which by means of the spring 36 is urged into a position behind the picker stick 2%) to thereby prevent movement of the picker stick upon its picking stroke until the latch is disengaged and released by actuation of the cable 38.

There is further connected to the picker stick as by means of a clevis 44 and a swivel as a tension means 48. This tension means may consist of any suitable material such as a strap of elastic composition such as rubber or the like. Stretching or tensioning of the tension means 43 is effected by means of an operating means which includes a cable 50.

As so far described it will now be apparent that when the cable 50 is operated to stretch or tension the tension means -35, the latter will apply resilient force to the picker stick 2i) tending to urge the latter upon its picking stroke. Such operation is however prevented by engagement of the latch means until the cable 38 is tensioned to withdraw the latch means whereupon the tension means is rendered effective to cause the picker stick to perform the picking stroke.

An essential and basic purpose of this invention is to provide a control means for effecting properly timed operation of the operating means and the actuating means. It is intended to intermittently effect tensioning of the tension means 48 just prior to the intended time of operation of the picker stick upon its picking stroke, and to relieve such tension at all other times thereby reducing wear and tear upon the mechanism. It is further intended to effect intermittent operation of the latch means so as to withdraw the latch only after the tensioning means has become effective to apply the desired tension to the picker stick, the actuation of the latch means thus actually timing the picking stroke.

This control means consists of a bell crank 60 comprising a control lever and which is fulcrumed upon a shaft 62 suitably mounted upon the framework of the looms as by means of bearing blocks 64 applied thereto. The lever 60 has an actuating arm 66 extending into juxtaposition to the picker stick control shaft 26 previously mentioned and an actuated arm 63 having a plurality of spaced apertures 7 (B thereon at varying distances from the shaft '62. Clevises 72 and 74 respectively are connected to the cable f of the operating means and the cable 38 of the actuating means. The actuated arm on has a transversely disposed pin 76 at one end thereof upon which is mounted a roller sleeve 78. This pin and sleeve cooperate with a picker cam indicated generally by the numeral Sit and which is applied to and carried by the previously mentioned control shaft 26. This picker cam consists of two complementary sections 82 and 84, the latter having a cam nose 86 which effects oscillation of the lever so, there being provided fasteners in the form of bolts 88 extending through aligned apertures Q0 and 92 in the cam sections, the latter aperture being threaded to receive the fasteners. Thus, the two sections of the cam may be readily applied to the shaft 26 without the necessity for dismantling the same from the loom frame thereby greatly facilitating the ease of assembly or mounting of the attachment upon a conventional loom or the removal of the parts for servicing as necessary.

There is also provided a mounting bracket 94 carried by suitable portions of the loom framework and from which rise pivot pins 96 and 98 carrying guide pulleys lilil over which the two cables 38 and fill are entrained.

From the foregoing it is believed that the operation of the device will now be readily understood. The control shaft 26 is driven in the usual manner of the conventional loom. Each time the picker cam till is rotated it Will impart a rocking movement to the lever ea This in turn will tension the two cables 38 and Sfl. Owing to the different distances from the center of oscillation, the two cables will be moved different distances. The dimensions have been so arranged that a greater movement is imparted to the cable 5% of the operating means in order to effectively tension the tension means 43 and thus apply at the proper time a powerful resilient force urging the picker stick upon its picking stroke. However, the picker stick is held against such motion by the latch mechanism. Towards the end of the oscillation of the lever 66, the cable 33 of the actuating means is sufficiently tensioned to effect withdrawal of the latch means. When this occurs, the previously tensioned tension means 48 is effective to operate the picker stick upon its picking stroke. Thus, a single means consisting of the lever and its operating cam 89 are sufficient to effect the desired differently timed operations of the tension means and of the latch means. Obviously by selectively positioning the clevises of the control cables 38 and 5f upon the actuated arm 63 of the lever 69, the time delay between initiation of the tensioning operation and the release of the picker stick can be readily varied.

Tn this invention the usual hickory stick of the picker 28 is replaced by a metallic stick thereby greatly increasing operation and reducing wear and breakage of the parts. Further, the application of the tensioning force to the lever only immediately prior to the picking stroke likewise greatly reduces wear and tear of the parts.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A loom picker stick operating mechanism comprising a latch means movably mounted upon a loom and releasably engaging a picker stick for preventing its picking stroke, actuating means connected to said latch means and operable to release the latter from the picker stick, a tension means continuously connected to said picker stick and tensionable for resiliently biasing said picker stick upon its picking stroke, operating means connected to said tension means and operable for periodically tensioning the tension means in preparation for a picking stroke, a common control means for said operating means and said actuating means, said control means comprising a lever pivotally mounted for oscillatory rocking movement, means for periodically causing rocking movement of said lever, said operating and actuating means each including cables, means connecting said cables to said lever and effecting upon the same rocking movement of said lever operation of said tension means immediately prior to release of said latch means from said picker stick.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said connecting means comprises fasteners securing said cables to said lever at different relatively adjustable distances from the center of oscillation of said lever.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said connecting means comprises a series of longitudinally spaced apertures in said lever at different distances from the lever center of oscillation, said cables having fasteners selectively adjustable in said apertures at different distances from said lever center of oscillation.

4. The combination of claim 1 including a support bracket for mounting upon a loom frame, guide rollers journaled on said support bracket, each cable being entrained over one of said guide rollers.

5. The combination of claim 1 wherein said latch means is mounted upon a loom lay sword upon which said picker stick is pivoted.

6. The combination of claim 1 wherein said latch means comprises a bellcrank oseillatably journaled at an intermediate portion, a picker stick engaging latch hook at one end of said be-llcrank, said actuating means cable being secured to the other end of said bellcrank, means engaging said bellcrank and yieldingly urging said latch hook toward engagement with a picker stick.

7. The combination of claim 1 wherein said control means comprises a picker shaft driven by a loom mechanism and a picker cam detachably mounted upon said shaft for rotation therewith and drivingly engaging said lever, said picker cam having complementary sections releasably secured together in clamping engagement upon said camshaft.

8. The combination of claim 1 wherein said tension means comprises an elastic longitudinally extensible and contractible member having one end secured to a picker stick between said latch means and the picker fulcrum.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,428,572 Wilson Sept. 12, 1922 1,642,335 Eihauer Sept. 13, 1927 2,160,338 Moessinger May 30, 1939 FOREIGN PATENTS 577,289 France June 3, 1924 911,296 France Mar. 11, 1946 987,098 France Mar. 30, 1949 211,908 Great Britain Feb. 15, 1924 410,084 Great Britain May 7, 1934 635,954 Great Britain Apr. 19, 1950 

1. A LOOM PICKER STICK OPERATING MECHANISM COMPRISING A LATCH MEANS MOVABLY MOUNTED UPON A LOOM AND RELEASABLY ENGAGING A PICKER STICK FOR PREVENTING ITS PICKING STROKE, ACTUATING MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID LATCH MEANS AND OPERABLE TO RELEASE THE LATTER FROM THE PICKER STICK, A TENSION MEANS CONTINUOUSLY CONNECTED TO SAID PICKER STICK AND TENSIONABLE FOR RESILIENTLY BIASING SAID PICKER STICK UPON ITS PICKING STROKE, OPERATING MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID TENSION MEANS AND OPERABLE FOR PERIODICALLY TENSIONING THE TENSION MEANS IN PREPARATION FOR A PICKING STROKE, A COMMON CONTROL MEANS FOR SAID OPERATING MEANS AND SAID ACTUATING MEANS, SAID CONTROL MEANS COMPRISING A LEVER PIVOTALLY MOUNTED FOR OSCILLATORY ROCKING MOVEMENT, MEANS FOR PERIODICALLY CAUSING ROCKING MOVEMENT OF SAID LEVER, SAID OPERATING AND ACTUATING MEANS EACH INCLUDING CABLES, MEANS CONNECTING SAID CABLES TO SAID LEVER AND EFFECTING UPON THE SAME ROCKING MOVEMENT OF SAID LEVER OPERATION OF SAID TENSION MEANS IMMEDIATELY PRIOR TO RELEASE OF SAID LATCH MEANS FROM SAID PICKER STICK. 